Supplements and Vitamins for
Macular Degeneration

Supplements and Vitamins affects a lot of things in your life, including degenerative eye diseases. While there are some companies that claim to cure your macular degeneration with supplements, there is no such thing that can cure or reverse the effects of macular degeneration. But, there is scientific research and blends that can help slow down the progression of degeneration and prevent full vision loss.

In fact, some research has shown that:

Diets rich in vegetables and fruit can decrease your risk for age-related macular degeneration. Especially if you have dark, leafy green vegetables in your daily diet.
Those who eat fish at least three times per week have a lower incidence of macular degeneration.
People who have diets high in saturated fat and have high levels of cholesterol are at risk for macular degeneration. Supplements and Vitamins can help to reduce this risk.

Talk With Your Physician about Supplements and Vitamins

Never buy supplements and Vitamins that claims it can cure or treat macular degeneration. If you already have intermediate age-related macular degeneration, a supplement that is approved for AMD patients can slow down the progression and help prevent additional vision loss. Some of the vitamins in this AMD formula included:

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Betacartoene
Zinc
Copper

These formulas do not prevent AMD and are not effective in those with early symptoms of AMD. But, for those who have intermediate age-related macular degeneration it slowed their progression. The recommended dosage is 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 of vitamin E, 15 milligrams of betacarotene, 80 milligrams of zinc and two milligrams of copper.

Are There Other Treatments?

Anti-Angiogenic Drugs – Injected into the eye
Photodynamic Laser Therapy
Low Vision Aids

Even if you have low vision because of AMD, you still have options. There are plenty of assistive technologies available for low vision patients that help them function. For example, EyeNote is a mobile application for smartphones that helps review paper currency. It can read the amount of money you have in your wallet, helping you increase your payment accuracy. You can get EyeNote and other applications from Low Vision Technologies.

AREDS Study

AREDS stands for Age-Related Eye Disease Study, which was the very first of its kind in looking at whether supplements and Vitamins helps slow down age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The study looked at 3600 people and was conducted by the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health. The patients took a formulation that included antioxidants, zinc, copper, beta carotene, and Vitamins C and E.

This specific AREDS formula was shown to lead to:

19% vision loss reduction for folks with intermediate AMD in either one or both eyes, as well as people with advanced wet or dry AMD in one eye
25% reduced risk of developing more advanced AMD for people with intermediate AMD

Further, this AREDS study revealed how smoking and age affected progression of age-related macular degeneration. The one area where the AREDS formula didn’t see a measured benefit was for those in early stages of AMD.

How This Affects You

Based on this study, it’s important that you talk with your doctor so you can both figure out the best way for you to supplement your diet in order to combat your macular degeneration.

Here are some points you can know now and bring up at the doctor’s office.

First of all, leafy green vegetables are known to lower the risk of AMD. However, because modern food is devoid of a quality amount of nutrients, supplementation is an intelligent way to go.

Standard multi-vitamins aren’t formulated in the same was as the AREDS formula in terms of focusing specifically on your low vision issue. Therefore, if you’d like to try the formula, get your doctor’s advice and then find it at various retail outlets and pharmacies straight over the counter.

There isn’t a person in this world who can definitively tell you how quickly your AMD is going to progress.

However, it appears quite clear from this study that if you refrain from smoking, maintain a diet of veggies and fruit, and use the AREDS formula, then you’re reducing your vision loss risk due to macular.

As you work to better your supplementation through diet and eye vitamins for macular degeneration, I’d like you to know that there are thrilling varieties of technological advancements in terms of low vision aids.

These are devices that will help improve your daily quality of life as you work to adjust to your eye disease. If you’d like to learn more, fill out the form below and I’m happy to send you complete details.